Frances Lincoln – serie

Identify the rocks you discover and uncover the stories they hold.  What is that rock you’ve just picked up? Which minerals is it made of, what’s unique about it and what can it reveal about Earth’s deeper story?   Rocks gives you the tools to answer these questions. Geologist and science illustrator Vojta Hybl guides you through more than 100 rock types, explaining how they form, what they look like and the geological processes they represent.   This authoritative yet accessible guide includes: Clear explanations of igneous, volcaniclastic, sedimentary, metamorphic and anthropic rocks. Practical tips for spotting and identifying rocks, including detailed specimen illustrations that highlight key features for easy recognition. Insight into minerals, the rock cycle and Earth’s dynamic history. Alongside practical identification advice, Rocks invites you to see the ground beneath your feet in a new way, connecting everyday stones to billions of years of planetary change.  Whether you’re a curious walker, an outdoor enthusiast or simply fascinated by the natural world, this book will transform how you experience landscapes and help you read the stories written in stone.

Fill your life with flowers and discover the art of natural, seasonal arranging with celebrated florist Graeme Corbett of @bloomandburn. Graeme Corbett of Bloom & Burn isn't your usual florist. Working from his studio in Kent, he uses locally grown flowers to create wild, loose arrangements with a modern feel. In Life in Bloom, he teaches you everything you need to know about growing and arranging flowers at home – including which rules to follow, and which ones to break – in a bid to find your own style.   Inviting you into his studio and garden, Graeme takes you through the seasons by way of his favourite flowers. Discover narcissi and ranunculus in spring; peonies and poppies in summer; dahlias and phlox in autumn; and dried honesty and forced blossom in winter. For each flower, Graeme gives advice on growing, choosing varieties, sourcing and conditioning before teaching stunning arrangements. Play with colour, form and texture and gain the confidence to go bigger.  You’ll learn how to: Grow and source and abundance of flowers.Create stunning arrangements using bowls, vases and moss bases. Build seasonal bouquets and showstopping centrepieces for tables and events. Experiment with colour, texture and shape to find your own floral style. Learn how to dry flowers and force bulbs and blossom to extend the season. Apply simple, sustainable techniques that bring professional polish to your work. Develop the confidence to design freely, whether with garden stems or market flowers. Beautifully photographed and filled with Graeme’s practical advice and creative encouragement, Life in Bloom is a generous book for anyone wanting to learn more about growing, gathering and arranging flowers.

**WINNER OF THE BOOK OF THE YEAR – BRITISH BOOK AWARDS****THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**'One of the most beautiful books I’ve ever seen.' –Rachel O’Brien, @foxglove_and_ivyDiscover England’s most beautiful and overlooked churches with Forgotten Churches: Exploring England’s Hidden Treasures For centuries, England’s churches have stood as quiet witnesses to history, filled with remarkable craftsmanship, untold stories and layers of cultural heritage. Yet many of these extraordinary buildings remain overlooked – until now. Luke Sherlock, or @englishpilgrim, has spent years travelling the length and breadth of England, uncovering hidden architectural gems and sharing their beauty with thousands online. In Forgotten Churches, he invites you on a journey through 70 of the country’s most atmospheric churches, from thousand-year-old Saxon chapels and striking Gothic landmarks to hidden Romanesque sanctuaries and ornate Victorian treasures. From the remote landscapes of Cornwall to the Norfolk fens, the Derbyshire dales and the Somerset hills, Sherlock reveals the forgotten stories of these extraordinary places – of local communities, master builders, and the shifting tides of history – while capturing the magic of stepping into these timeless spaces. Forgotten Churches is the perfect compendium for history enthusiasts, architecture lovers, and anyone who finds inspiration in England’s vivid and storied past. ----------------------------------------------------------------'Beautifully done…Whether you're interested in churches or architecture or just English history, it's a great read.' – Steven Moore, antiquary and TV presenter'A really, really beautiful book.' – Charlie Cooper, actor, comedian and writer

Legendary gardener and plantswoman Beth Chatto describes how she transformed a piece of wasteland into a lush and blooming garden in this beautiful book, filled with helpful tips and practical advice.The story of how Beth Chatto created her gravel garden on 'possibly the driest, and the most windswept, piece of soil in England' has a message of hope for gardeners everywhere. At the outset she promised herself: 'This garden was not to be irrigated in times of drought. Once established the plants must fend for themselves or die.' The results, eloquently described by the author and beautifully portrayed in Steven Wooster’s specially commissioned photographs taken through the seasons, testify to the triumphant outcome of the adventure.Showing how her principles can be applied on any scale, this book is an essential read for any gardener facing water shortages and poor soil. Rich with hard-won tips and expressed in Beth Chatto’s matchless style, this is a gardening classic.

Join Paul Nicklen – renowned conservationist, wildlife and art photographer – for a rare, tell-all masterclass in photography. Drawing on more than three decades of experience, including 20 years of shooting for National Geographic, Nicklen distils his craft into 20 key lessons, each with a clear and simple takeaway.   Whether you’re a beginner picking up a camera for the first time or an experienced photographer wanting to refine your practice, this is the essential handbook for all photographers interested in the natural world.  In this book you will: Learn essential practices to spark creativity and develop your own style, from “sketching with a camera” to Nicklen’s 20-60-20 philosophy for experimentation. Gain confidence and build your profile through techniques for silencing self-doubt, setting achievable goals and embracing failure as part of growth. Read the stories behind Nicklen’s iconic wildlife images, including photographing emperor penguins in Antarctica and grizzly bears in the Canadian Arctic.  Discover how to use your photography ethically and powerfully, capturing images that respect nature while telling stories that inspire change. Try out projects you can start close to home – from studying animal behaviour in your backyard to building a compelling photo essay – and apply them wherever your camera takes you. Illustrated throughout with Nicklen’s award-winning images, this is your invitation from the master of art and wildlife photography to see the natural world differently, using your camera as a tool for art, joy and impact.

This comprehensive, beautiful book delves deep into the complex but fascinating story of our relationship with colour throughout human history.Colour is fundamental to our experience and understanding of the world. It crosses continents and cultures, disciplines and decades. It is used to convey information and knowledge, to evoke mood, and to inspire emotion.This book explores the history of our understanding of colour, from the ancient world to the present, from Aristotle to Albers. Interspersed in the historical story are numerous thematic essays that look at how colour has been used across a wide range of disciplines and fields: in food, music, language and many others.  The illustrations are drawn from the Royal College of Art’s renowned Colour Reference Library which spans six centuries of works and nearly 2,000 titles, from a Gothic manuscript on the composition of the rainbow to hand-painted Enlightenment works on colour theory and vibrant 20th-century colour charts, including many fascinating examples not  seen in other books.Delving far and wide in this fascinating and varied subject, this book will help readers find new layers of meaning and complexity in their everyday experiences and teach them to look closer at our colourful lives.

A stunning collection of 1000 images from the RHS archives: Vintage artwork Birds, insects and animals Fruits and vegetables Flowers, leaves and other botanical illustrations Inspiration and tips on successful collaging from leading UK collagist Katy McNulty (@collage.garden) Made for everyone, from the absolute beginner to the experienced collagist Bring the beautiful botanical to your collages with this vibrant collection of RHS images, ready to cut and stick across any page. Or roam wild and let your creativity bloom – design anything from birthday cards, to wall art, to notebook covers.Discover a world of floral fun and add the beauty of nature to your collage with this crafty collection of 1000 images.Choose a background image in various different sizes from the book – or combine images to create a new one – then just grab scissors and glue and begin assembling your own unique artwork.Whether you’re an experienced artist or you’re collaging for the very first time, this is a full and flourishing sourcebook that will add an inspired touch of the botanical to your creation.

Beyond the Veil is a visual tour through the curious history of how we deal with death – the grief and mourning, the funerals, symbols and ceremonies.   From Victorian England across to the US, learn about the often peculiar and at times macabre ways of how the living memorialise the dead.  Humans have always had ways of marking death, but in Victorian England death became a morbid obsession that went global – death was as much ‘celebrated’ as it was a source of fear and sadness. Queen Victoria herself became a figurehead of grief after the death of her beloved Prince Albert in 1861. Her ensuing fascination with death took many visual forms – from her ritualised embrace of black clothing to the building of ostentatious monuments – and massively influenced cultural norms in both the UK and further afield. The Victorians built complex cemeteries, collected precious memento mori, commissioned bizarre death portraits and obsessed over the correct mourning attire and funerary protocol, while turn-of-the century America saw reflections of many of these cultural phenomena. The bestsellers of the period were often about life and death (think Frankenstein and Dracula), while the art, architecture and style – with its often dark and heavy gothic overtones – revelled in the glamorisation of death. Beyond the Veil brings this extraordinarily elaborate and stylised visual culture together while expertly explaining and elaborating on its most peculiar and fascinating aspects. For example, it explores: The influence of Queen Victoria’s personal mourning on fashion and social custom.The rise of Victorian cemeteries and funerary architecture. The art of memento mori and post-mortem photography. The emergence of spiritualism, seances and afterlife communication. The fascination with gothic literature, symbolism and the romanticisation of death. Beautifully illustrated throughout with archival photography, artworks and design,Beyond the Veil is a must-have for lovers of history, art and the macabre. It invites readers to step into the shadows of the past and discover how Victorian mourning shaped our modern relationship with grief and remembrance.

Step inside Sissinghurst, the world's most famous garden, and understand the strength of its attraction in this beautiful, once in a generation study.Since is was bought and transformed by writer Vita Sackville-Westand diplomat Harold Nicolson in the 1930s, Sissinghurst has captured imaginations with its unique and intricate design. From first sight of the Castle Tower to the magic of the world-famous White Garden, this garden of rooms and experiences, memories and emotions is the most evocative of places. Today, it is one the National Trust's most popular destinations and, under the lead of head gardener Troy Scott Smith, Sissinghurst is influential for its design, its exuberant planting and its effect on visitors as a complete garden experience. Its fascination endures and matures, captivating with its intimacy, romance and history.In this definitive book, Tim Richardson explores the power and magic of Sissinghurst, explaining the nuances of its evolution and showing how we can all enjoy it today. With beautiful photography from Jason Ingram and a foreword from leading garden designer Dan Pearson, this is the must-have book for any garden lover. Now in paperback.

A must-have for dog lovers, Tell Your Dog I Love Them is a heart-warming celebration of the joy, devotion, and unconditional love that dogs bring into our lives, created by the popular artist Harriet Lowther.From their quirky habits to their unwavering devotion, Tell Your Dog I Love Them captures the charm, personality, and pure magic of our four-legged friends with warmth, humour and unmistakable authenticity. Featuring a mix of artistic styles including pencil, pen and ink, watercolour, collage and print, it brings together witty observations, relatable moments and the delightful chaos that every dog owner will recognise!Beautifully illustrated and filled with humour, sentiment and insight, this book is a love letter to the unique connection between humans and their dogs. Perfect as a gift or a personal keepsake, it offers every dog lover a joyful and heartfelt way to celebrate their best friends.

'Superb regional guide ... Shots of the distilleries combine with wonderful landscape photography' Country Life'Mr MacLean serves up dram after dram of useful detail... This is armchair travel at its best' Wall Street JournalA new handbook sized editon of Spirit of Place, a wide-ranging and evocative portrait of Scotland's distilleries, with text by renowned whisky expert Charles MacLean and photographs by Lara Platman and Alan MacDonald.Treating Scotland as eight distinct regions, this fascinating book describes the 'cultural terroir' of the country's fifty greatest distilleries; the ingredients, practices and traditions that result in such an exquisite range of whiskies. Specially commissioned photographs capture the texture of the surrounding landscapes and communities through the changing seasons, as well as portraits of those craftsmen who work there, and the fabric of the buildings themselves.Spirit of Place is a unique addition to the literature on Scotch whisky, from the world's greatest expert on the subject. The perfect gift for anyone planning a tour of Scotland's distilleries, a souvenir for anyone who has visited them, and simply the perfect companion to a dram at home.

From the authors of the highly successful Adventures Walks for Families In and Around London comes London Adventure Walks, offering 25 carefully devised, imaginative explorations of London - all starting from points easily accessible by public transport - specifically designed to appeal to children. Intriguing explorations of the historic (Tudor London/Dick Whittington/Fire of London/Florence Nightingale), literary (Dickens, Shakespeare, 101 Dalmatians, Paddington Bear), artistic and famous sights of the capital will draw them in and keep them enthralled.

Join two of the world’s most influential garden designers, Piet Oudolf and Henk Gerritsen, as they describe their ideal perennials, bulbs, grasses, ferns and small shrubs for your natural garden. This comprehensive compendium classifies these 1200 plants according to their behaviour, strengths and uses. An ideal plant is one that is both beautiful and robust, performing reliably with very little input from the gardener – and without artificial fertilizers and pesticides. Rather than striving for big, bold masses of colourful blooms that are vigorously pruned back as soon as they have finished flowering, their innovative approach to gardening involves choosing plants chiefly for their form – leaves, flower heads and stems included – which means they retain their natural beauty through all the seasons. Find within:   1200 beautiful and reliable plants used by top garden designers Full descriptions and growing instructions Unique easy-to-follow classification according to growing behaviour and use in the garden Natural gardening, without artificial fertilizers or pesticides More than 250 full-colour photographs With these plants and expert advice, create a garden that will thrive with the life of the insects and birds it welcomes.

What Makes Great Art showcases a selection of 80 outstanding paintings and sculptures from around the world and throughout time, assessing just what it is that makes them so great.Why do some artworks stand out head and shoulders above others? What makes a painting truly great, and secures its artistic legacy for centuries after its creation?Some owe their greatness to composition of colour, others offer profound insights into their human subjects, and some convey their message particularly effectively.Exceptional art somehow satisfies at a deeper level than the rest, and this truly insightful and deeply researched work examinss exactly how 80 of the most significant works of art have persevered, and what makes us come back to them time and time again.Andy Prankhurst’s succinct, appraisive text will open your eyes to the unique defining qualities of these key works, enabling you to appreciate the groundbreaking talents of every age.An indispensible book for anyone who wants to understand how and why art continues to fascinate us, this book is a comprehensive guide to these masterpieces and what exactly makes them great.

‘ What is rooted is easy to nourishWhat is recent is easy to correct’ Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way) is the classic manual on the art of living. In 81 short, poetic chapters, the book looks at the basic predicament of being alive and teaches how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao, or the basic principle of the universe. Stephen Mitchell’ s acclaimed translation is accompanied by ancient Chinese paintings that beautifully reflect Lao Tzu’ s timeless words. An illustrated edition of one of the most widely translated texts in the world. Features the best of classical Chinese painting A modern, accessible translation which reflects the poetry of Lao Tzu's words. ‘ Beautiful and accessible; the English, as 'fluid as melting ice,' is a joy to read throughout’ The New Republic. ‘ I have read many translations of this ancient text but Mitchell’ s is by far the best.’ James Frey, author of A Million Little Pieces.

The second in a series of eight UK regional cycling guides, from the author of the bestselling 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs and Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs. Featuring 75 of the best climbs in Yorkshire, Simon Warren continues on his quest to find the steepest hills in the county, to add to those already conquered (and revisited here) in his previous books.The vast county of Yorkshire is bursting with a bounty of stunning climbs that are the envy of the nation. Whether you're tempted by the crazily steep inclines of the North York Moors, the grand passes of the Yorkshire Dales or the rugged Calderdale cobbles, there's something for everyone. This incredibly diverse topography, home to such famous ascents as Rosedale Chimney, Buttertubs Pass and Holme Moss, make it a hill climber’s paradise. Venue to arguably the finest Grand Depart the Tour de France has ever seen in 2014, Yorkshire is now recognized as the home of cycling in Britain. The question is now, where to begin?

Modern Women is a celebration of influential and inspiring women who have changed the world through their lives, work and actions. From suffragettes to scientists, activists to artists, politicians to pilots and writers to riot grrrls, the women included have all paved the way for gender equality in their own indomitable way.Find out about extraordinary women including writer and teacher Maya Angelou, computer scientist Ada Lovelace, abolitionist Harriet Tubman, film star Katharine Hepburn and pioneering musician Björk. Their lives also enable bigger stories to be told: the suffrage movement with Sophia Duleep Singh; the civil rights struggle and Audre Lorde; advances in science made by Rosalind Franklin; the push for artistic freedom in the work of Frida Kahlo and Louise Bourgeois; and the importance of equality in all sections of society advocated by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

This useful, stylish and compact organiser will help you plan everything for your dream wedding, from the minute you get engaged right up to the big day!Organising a wedding takes a lot of planning. But help is at hand!This structured planner will keep you on track with checklist reminders, calendar countdowns and plenty of space to record who is doing what and when to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day.Comprehensive but flexible enough for you to customise according to your needs, this stylish notebook will be all you need to plan your big day.Featuring an elegant modern design and compact format, the planner is split into fourteen sections, each marked with tabbed opening pages, making it easy to find whatever information you need.Sections include:PlanningBudgetsCeremonyClothingBeautyFlowersReceptionGuestsStationeryGiftsPhotographyTransportThe HoneymoonThere is an expandable pocket at the back for you to store any cards, cuttings or samples, lay-flat binding, ribbon markers and an elastic enclosure to keep everything in place.This book is the perfect gift for newly engaged couples, or to help you organise your own plans, so get this handy and complete planner today to ensure a stress-free journey to the perfect wedding!

Petite in size but packed with inspiration, Just Draw Botanicals presents 90 beautiful, contemporary botanical artworks in a range of media and styles.Each spread includes a stunning work of art paired with a discussion of the artist’s approach to creating it, including the techniques employed. At the bottom of the page, find tips on the tools, materials and methods used to make the piece.A hyper-realistic blackberry, a watercolour sketch of a bunch of mint in a glass, a detailed scratchboard study of three pussy willow twigs, a tribal-style pattern inspired by different leaf shapes, an abstract image-transfer print of a milkweed plant… the techniques and subjects covered are diverse. With these and more artworks – created in a variety of media, including watercolour, coloured pencils, oil, pen and ink, mixed media and pencil – explore: Shape, form and lightHarmonious coloursContrasting elementsFine detailCapturing movementCropped compositionsUsing negative spaceAnatomical accuracyA visual index is included at the front of the book so you can easily skip to a style or colour palette that interests you. At the back of the book, find an overview of materials and tips for using them; a list of further resources, including books and websites; and two additional indexes, one by artist name and the other by subject.Whether you are an artist looking for fresh ideas for creating botanical art or simply enjoy looking at nature-inspired images, this portable volume is a rich resource.

Kelly Hoppen, multi-award-winning designer and TV personality, shares her essential style solutions that will transform your home.Kelly knows what works, and here she shows you how to do it by bringing together creative ideas and inspiration alongside a wealth of professional know-how, practical advice and cost-effective style solutions that can work for every home, big or small.Whether you are a young professional renting a flat, a first-time homebuyer or an experienced homeowner who wants to give your home a dash of Kelly Hoppen glamour, this book will help you create a beautiful, functional and relaxing home that suits your individual needs and reflects your personality.With over 200 images, carefully selected and curated by a world-renowned design guru with over 40 years' experience, Kelly Hoppen's Essential Style Solutions for Every Home gives you: Clear and easy-to-follow advice on the first principles of style including tones and colour, texture, light and finishing touches.The lowdown on practicalities, budgeting and prioritizing from Kelly’s expert perspective.Tried-and-tested tricks of the trade that show you how to use colour and tones that will make your rooms feel bigger and brighter.Tips on how to dress and accessorise rooms for maximum impact.Room-by-room case studies focus on the main spaces in the home as well as dead space such as corridors, addressing the feeling you are aiming to create, and setting out the core elements and top styling tips to allow you to achieve this.Where applicable, Kelly makes cost-cutting suggestions for saving money by choosing less-expensive materials, advising what it’s worth splashing out on and where you can afford to spend less, as well as ideas for making quick-and-easy seasonal updates to inexpensively refresh your rooms on a regular basis.Get the luxe look for less with Kelly Hoppen’s Essential Style Solutions for Every Home.

This beautifully illustrated guide delves deep into the meaning and significance of different tattoo symbols, exploring the rich cultural history around the world of this widespread form of body art.Tattoos are everywhere: one in three of us has at least one. Body art is one of the most popular ways of expressing our identity and beliefs.But whether we’re aware of it or not when we choose a design to be permanently inked on our skin, a complex language of meanings lies behind the visuals we choose. A lotus flower, koi carp swimming upstream or a dragon rising towards the sun: in the language of tattoos these are all symbols of strength and overcoming adversity.    This book uncovers the meanings behind tattoo symbols, delving into the history of the most popular motifs that recur in many different tattoo styles, including tribal, traditional, Japanese and realistic. Over 130 symbols are grouped according to their meanings, whether it’s good luck, freedom, wisdom, power, spirituality or love.Each symbol is illustrated with stunning, specially drawn visuals by acclaimed artist and tattooist Oliver Munden, and accompanied by an explanation by tattoo expert Nick Schonberger which delves into its history, significance and application in tattooing.Both a visual delight and a fascinating insight into the rich cultural heritage of tattooing, this is the perfect book for anyone wanting to learn more about tattoo symbolism, in need of inspiration for their next tattoo, or who just loves tattoo art.

The Gardener's Five-Year Record Book from the RHS is the perfect place to record what happens in your garden over a several years. Structured week by week, with five years to a view, it is flexible enough to personalise to suit your needs.  Gardeners know how helpful it is to be aware of what is happening in the garden from year to year – what germinates, flowers or fruits and when; how the weather affects flowering and fruiting seasons and harvests; issues with pests and so much more. This beautifully illustrated journal makes it easy to record and review those changes.  There are additional sections on Plants to Buy, Plant Suppliers, Useful Addresses and Gardens to Visit so essential information is all in one place.

“Every page brings forth the elegiac tone of JRR Tolkien’s work... It is a beautiful book, including many wonderful pictures by Tolkien himself… Garth’s book made me realise the impact that Tolkien has had on my life.”The TimesA lavishly illustrated exploration of the places that inspired and shaped the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, creator of Middle-earth. This new book from renowned expert John Garth takes us to the places that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to create his fictional locations in The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and other classic works. Featuring more than 100 images, it includes Tolkien’s own illustrations, contributions from other artists, archive images, maps and spectacular present-day photographs.Inspirational locations range across Great Britain – particularly Tolkien’s beloved West Midlands and Oxford – but also overseas to all points of the compass. Sources are located for Hobbiton, the elven valley of Rivendell, the Glittering Caves of Helm’s Deep, and many other key spots in Middle-earth, as well as for its mountain scenery, forests, rivers, lakes and shorelands.A rich interplay is revealed between Tolkien’s personal travels, his wide reading and his deep scholarship as an Oxford professor. Garth uses his own profound knowledge of Tolkien’s life and work to uncover the extraordinary processes of invention, to debunk popular misconceptions about the inspirations for Middle-earth, and to put forward strong new claims of his own.Organised by theme, The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien is an illustrated journey into the life and imagination of one of the world’s best-loved authors, an exploration of the relationship between worlds real and fantastical, and an inspiration for anyone who wants to follow in Tolkien’s footsteps.

Delve into the world of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his Glasgow School of Art-trained contemporaries who forged a unique and distinct vision in both art and architecture at the end of the Victorian era.The Glasgow Style is the name given to the work of a group of young designers and architects working in Glasgow from 1890–1914. At its centre were four young friends who had trained at Glasgow School of Art; two architects and two artists – Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Herbert MacNair, Margaret Macdonald and Frances Macdonald – who were simply known by their friends and contemporaries as ‘The Four’.Their work was a personal vision in the new international style of the 1890s, Art Nouveau, and is perhaps best known for Mackintosh’s architecture and furniture. But at the root of this new style was a graphic language which all four shared.Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Art of The Four presents the most coherent story to date of this important group, concentrating on the entirety of their artistic imagery and output, far beyond the best known work of the 1890s, and charting the constantly changing relationships between the artists and their work.

How Art Is Made looks at renowned works of art from across the centuries and around the globe and asks the intriguingly simple question – how were these works actually made?  Divided into two sections – materials and methods – each chapter showcases a single work of art which demonstrates the mastery and innovative use of a single material or method, from oil paint, pastel and pencil, to woodcut, litho and impasto. Each work is presented as the centerpiece of a capsule history, while comparative works are also included to help amplify our understanding.How, for example, did Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel fresco, or Turner become such a master of watercolour? How did Warhol turn so effectively to screen printing, and how does Yayoi Kusama create such beguiling 'infinity rooms'?The book enhances the experience of looking at great works of art and guides us to a deeper understanding of how they were created and why we regard them as so important.

A treasure trove of carefully selected letters written by great artists, providing unique insight into their characters and a glimpse into their lives. Artists’ Letters is a collection of intriguing, entertaining, moving, significant, surprising, witty and insightful correspondence from great artists. Arranged thematically, it includes writings and musings on love, work, daily life, money, travel and the creative process. On the theme of friendship, for example, letters provide evidence of a creative community between peers, with support and mutual appreciation that helps to dispel the myth of the artist as solitary genius. Letters between Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin show an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas. We see mutual admiration between Claude Monet and Berthe Morisot, and Picasso’s quick notes to Jean Cocteau illustrate their closeness. Letters, some of which includes sketches and drawings, are reproduced with the transcript and some background and contextual information alongside.  Artists include: Salvador Dali, Goya, Lucian Freud, Vanessa Bell, Michelangelo, Mondrian, Gustav Klimt, Jasper Johns, Edward Burne-Jones, William Blake, Marcel Duchamp, Dorothea Tanning, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Picasso, Mark Rothko, David Hockney, Monet, Marina Abramovic, Cindy Sherman, Joseph Cornell, Leonora Carrington, Wang Zhideng, Yayoi Kusama, Yoko Ono, Renoir, Rubens, Eva Hesse, Cy Twombly, Roy Lichtenstein, Mary Cassatt, Jackson Pollock, Leonardo da Vinci, Joseph Beuys, Judy Chicago, Frida Kahlo, Alfred Stieglitz, Georgia O'Keeffe, Auguste Rodin, Camille Claudel, Henry Moore, Joshua Reynolds, Rembrandt, Whistler, Anni Albers, Naum Gabo, Kazimir Malevich, Francis Bacon, Ana Mendieta, Lee Krasner, Andy Warhol

Discover how to find joy and calm in the natural world with Caroline Quentin’s warm journey into nature, wherever you live and whatever your space.  Following the success of her Sunday Times bestseller, Drawn to the Garden, Caroline Quentin returns with Drawn to Nature, a beautifully illustrated celebration of the outdoors in all its forms. Written in her characteristically conversational style, this book invites you to reconnect with nature whether you nurture a sprawling garden, tend a single balcony pot, keep a few houseplants or simply delight in stepping outside.  From downsizing her own garden to carrying seeds and cherished plants while travelling, she shows that the pleasures and the beauty of the natural world are always within reach. Structured through the colours of the rainbow, the book blends gentle storytelling with practical wisdom, showing how the natural world can support us through life’s transitions.  For example, you’ll discover: Caroline’s personal nature reflections, rooted in her lifelong connection to Devon and Somerset. Stories from her life as an actor, interwoven with memories of places and people that shaped her love of the outdoors. Practical ideas for staying connected to nature, even when life changes. Gentle seasonal and colour‑based inspirations, from noticing early snowdrops to appreciating birdsong. Illustrations by Caroline herself, capturing flora, fauna, landscapes and small natural details with charm. Drawn to Nature is a comforting, inspiring companion for anyone who wants to nurture a greener, calmer life. Illustrated with Caroline’s own artwork, this book is as visually delightful as it is heartfelt, a perfect gift for nature lovers everywhere.

'This volume helps the reader and commuter see the treasures below the surface of New York with fresh eyes.' – Charles Whitaker Discover the hidden masterpieces living beneath New York City.  Step into the world’s largest underground art museum with Art of the New York Subway, a stunning tribute to the artistry that transforms the New York subway from a transit system into a cultural landmark.  Since its opening in 1904, the subway has grown into an 840-mile network serving 5.6 million riders daily. But beyond its bustling platforms lies a treasure trove of creativity, including: The elegant Beaux Arts terracotta signs of Heins and LaFarge. Vibrant contemporary installations by icons like Roy Lichtenstein, Yayoi Kusama, Faith Ringgold and Nick Cave. Mosaics, sculptures and murals from world-renowned and emerging artists.  Tracing nearly 200 stations of the subway, this book celebrates the fusion of architecture, design and public art that defines New York’s identity. Whether you’re an art lover, a history enthusiast or a New Yorker at heart, it offers an unforgettable journey through the city’s creative spirits station by station.  Experience the beauty beneath the streets and see the subway as you’ve never seen it before.